Layered EducationWhat it looks like
- Keeps working after the class has moved on
- Upset by a substitute, assembly, or room change
- Slow to start after moving between tasks or classes
Autism
Transitions and Changes in Routine
Warn early, show what is next, and plan for unusual days.
Why it happens
Stopping one thing and starting another takes planning and flexible thinking. Sudden change removes the routine a student counts on. Knowing ahead of time lowers stress and makes the shift easier.
Try this tomorrow
- Give a five minute and a one minute warning, shown and spoken
- Show what is next on the agenda before each shift
- Mark any schedule change on the board at the start of class
- Tell the student about a planned absence the day before
- Leave the substitute a short note on what helps
If two of you are in the room
Co-teaching pairs can split this between them, and swap who takes which part so both teachers work with every student.
One teacher
Gives the countdown and points to the agenda at each transition.
The other teacher
Gives the student a private heads-up before the shift and helps start the next task.
What the research can and cannot tell us
Visual schedules, timers, and priming have research support, though many studies involved younger students. We found no studies on substitute days, so those ideas apply the same principles.
Resources
7 resources for this topic, drawn from 5 organizations. Everything opens free, and the ones from other organizations open on their own sites.
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Transition Time: Helping Individuals on the Autism Spectrum Move Successfully from One Activity to Another
Choose from visual timers, countdowns, schedules, and transition cues, with the reason behind each one.
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Change is Good! Supporting Students on the Autism Spectrum when Introducing Novelty
Prepare a student for schedule changes and staff absences with priming and change cards.
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Priming
Follow six steps to preview tomorrow's materials with a student. Written for ages 3 to 15, and adaptable.
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Visual Countdown
Print a countdown you control, so you can shorten or stretch the time left before a transition.
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Social Narratives
Write a short narrative to prepare a student for a substitute teacher, a new class, or a fire drill.
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Antecedent-Based Interventions: Brief Packet
Plan changes to schedules, routines, and the lead-up to a hard activity before problems start.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (Part 2), Page 7: High School and Beyond
One page on high school practices, including transition cues, peer buddies, and self-management.
These resources are shared for professional learning and planning. They are meant to inform your professional judgment, not replace it. Each student's IEP and your district, state and federal requirements always come first. Listing a resource here is not an endorsement by Layered Education. This is educational information only, not legal advice.
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